Scary (But Not Really) But Also Yes For Real.

I'm snuggled up at my mom's house on this chilly afternoon, half-studying, half-watching a corny scary movie marathon on the Sci-fi channel. In my opinion, your mom's living room is the best possible place you could do this. I highly recommend it. 

For as long as I can remember, I have always loved to be spooked.
As a little girl, I devoured books with scary stories in them, especially around Halloween. I've read the classics, like Frankenstein and Dracula, countless times.

My mother has always been the most amazing story teller, and scary stories were her specialty. The tales of terror always varied from one story-telling to the next, but the basic plot was usually the same--
something is coming up the stairs, step...by step...by step!
A noise is coming from the upstairs in an abandoned house...better go see what is it!
And the story would usually end with her leaping toward us and shrieking "Boo!" 
The sheer thrill and delight of  being so terrified in that moment would send shivers down my spine and a huge smile to my face.
My parents have also been known to play a terrifying prank or two on us as kids. OOOOH yes, they certainly have had they're fun. And I'm sure they would be delighted to recount those moments for you with great joy. For those of you who know my mother, I'm sure you find that hard to believe.(NOT.)
One such occasion happened more recently than I would like to admit...let's just say I was no little girl. We had just watched a spooky movie...

and my sisters and I were going to bed. All three of us shared a bedroom, which was on the second floor. We were just crawling into bed, when there was a knock on the window.
THE SECOND STORY WINDOW THAT NOTHING COULD POSSIBLY REACH UNLESS IT WAS A HORRIBLY TALL CREEPY CREATURE.
Or something.
Long story short, after much hysteria from the girls, and much laughter from my mother, my dad walked in the front door carrying a looong fishing pole.
Mmmmmhhhmm. I was none too entertained.

I know that some people may have qualms about the idea of a young girl reading scary things, watching scary things, and listening to scary things. Especially in this day and age. Everything is a no-no. But I was raised with an understanding--these things are just pretend. They're imaginary. They're fun. They are not real. The reality is that we're safe, God is protecting us. Even at a young age, I was being taught about the FREEDOM we have when God is on our side. We don't have to live in fear, even of Dracula.

My grown-up version of this is going to Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens and watching dozens of creepy movies starting in September.
My grown up reality is that, while I am still not genuinely frightened of the ghosts and goblins that come out at Halloween, there are other things that scare me. More and more the older I get.
There's a lot to worry about.
There's a lot that's scary in our world.
Stuff that's not imaginary.
It's not pretend.
It's very, very real.
And the fear can be debilitating.
I've come to realize that I'm afraid of a lot.
But some things have not changed.
I'm still protected by God.
He is still on my side.
Whom (or what) then shall I fear? <=== Can I add that in there? Can I take that liberty? Sacrilege, anyone?

I have freedom in Christ. I cast down the imaginations that come streaking into my mind at breakneck speed. The dark thoughts that come in my weakest AND strongest moments. I cast them down, as well as every high thing that exalts itself against what I KNOW to be true about Christ and His will for me. I bring these fears into CAPTIVITY.
Check out this verse.

YEAH.
We've already won.

Back to my scary movies. I do believe there's a mutant cockroach in the sewers of New York City that is calling my name.


Love you.
-Lacy